Boost for Police as residents accept council tax rise for more bobbies

THE Police and Crime Panel of Warwickshire have backed plans to increase the Police precept – the proportion of council tax taken to cover the cost of policing – by an extra £2 per month for an average band D property.

It follows an extensive public consultation by Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe which found broad backing for the proposals which will allow the Chief Constable to recruit an additional 100 employees, comprising 85 police officers, five police community support officers and 10 civilian crime investigators.

More than 2,400 Warwickshire residents responded to the survey, with more 72 per cent giving their backing to the rise of £2 per month – with three quarters of these indicating they would have been willing to support an even greater raise, had it had been offered.

PCC Seccombe said: “The feedback from the public was very clear: people want to see more visible policing in the communities where they live and they want to see an improved response from the police when they call them.”

The decision should see the start of a recruitment drive over the next 12 to 18 months.

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